Harold Brazil, one of the city’s at-large councilmembers, is in a bit more trouble. In a request from the W.Times to investigate, the District’s Department of Transportation has found that Brazil and his re-election committee have illegally converted a red-brick sidewalk on New York Avenue near Seventh Street NW into personal parking spaces. While it may seem just plain wrong to park on the sidewalk, the District allows you to do it as long as you have a permit.

Brazil’s campaign manager tells the W.Times that the parking spaces weren’t something they “asked for” but something “that was provided to us” by the real estate developer his campaign is renting from. They are now trying to obtain permits.

This is the latest scandal for Brazil, who has been rocked in the local media the past year for having his city council staff work on his re-election on city time and, more seriously perhaps, securing a top city job for a close aide, Aimee Occhetti, whom he was having a close personal relationship with, the Post reported in June.

DCist loves it when the W.Times generates a hullabaloo over parking and speed photo radar stories, especially when it involves the D.C. government and the newspaper’s investigative prowess. Where else are we going to get lines like this? “Mr. Rice said his agency was not aware of the violation until The Washington Times inquired about it this week.” Cue sinister background music.

Filed Under: City Council, dcist, department of transportation, district, election, government, harold brazil, media, music, new york, new york avenue, news, parking, real estate, rice, seventh street, Seventh Street NW, Street NW, the city, The Washington, the washington times, this week, transportation, washington, washington times, York Avenue,